Real estate mogul Donald Trump will host a debate for Republican presidential candidates in Iowa just days before the state's Jan. 3 caucuses.

Trump spokesman Michael Cohen confirmed the details of a New York Times report to NBC News: Trump, the star of the reality show "The Apprentice," will moderate a debate on Dec. 27 in Des Moines, Iowa. The debate is being sponsored by the conservative magazine Newsmax.

Cohen told NBC he had no list of confirmed candidates, and wasn't able to name the venue yet. He also stressed that it is not a "Donald Trump Debate," just that Trump would be moderating.

Still, the debate keeps with the outsized role Trump has played in the primary process since ruling out running himself for the GOP nomination. Most of the other candidates in the race have met with Trump, though, who has continued to opine on the race -- and even flirt with an independent bid for the presidency.